Crash victim wins £3.5m payout

A mother who was seriously injured in a road accident six years ago has won a £3.5 million compensation payout.

Nurse and midwife, Janet Lyndon, of Werrington, Peterborough, was 37 and had her five-year-old daughter, Katie, with her when her car was hit on the A16, near Boston, Lincolnshire, three days before Christmas 1997.

A car driven by Sylvia Shea, of Mill Lane, Algarkirk, Boston, pulled out of a junction, causing another vehicle to swerve, lose control and collide with Mrs Lyndon's car, London's High Court heard.

Ms Shea's motor insurers admitted liability for the accident and on Monday agreed to a £3.5 million settlement of Mrs Lyndon's case.

Her barrister, Mr Michael Tillett QC, said that, although Mrs Lyndon did not need 24-hour-care, she did need 24-hour supervision.

Memory problems

She had suffered a severe brain injury and, immediately after the accident, there had been fears for her survival, her solicitor Eric Morris said outside the court.

The accident left Mrs Lyndon in a coma for a long time with a fractured skull.

She spent nine months in hospital and still had serious cognitive and memory problems as well as being almost blind in one eye.

"Her ability to walk and use her right side is reduced. She has lost her sense of smell and is left with residual scarring to her face and throat," said Mr Morris.

Her husband, Michael, a former policeman, works as a flooring contractor in London during the week but visits his wife and their daughter Katie, now 11, at weekends.

Lawyers for both sides will now consider paying part of the cash into a special "structured" investment fund.